Riverside Stadium facts for kids
| Riverside | |
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| Full name | Riverside Stadium |
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| Former names | Cellnet Riverside Stadium (1995–1999) BT Cellnet Riverside Stadium (1999–2002) Captain James Cook Stadium (2019) |
| Location | Middlesbrough, England |
| Coordinates | 54°34′42″N 1°13′1″W / 54.57833°N 1.21694°W |
| Public transit |  Middlesbrough |
| Owner | Middlesbrough |
| Operator | Middlesbrough |
| Capacity | 34,742 |
| Record attendance | Middlesbrough: 34,836 (vs Norwich City, 28 December 2004) Overall: 35,000 (England v Slovakia, 11 June 2003) |
| Field size | 115 x 75 yards (105 x 69 m) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1994–1995 |
| Opened | 26 August 1995 |
| Renovated | 1998 |
| Construction cost | £16 million |
| Structural engineer | Arup |
| General contractor | Taylor Woodrow |
| Tenants | |
| Middlesbrough (1995–present) Middlesbrough Women (2023–present) |
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The Riverside Stadium is a cool football stadium located in Middlesbrough, England. It has been the home ground for the Middlesbrough football team since it first opened in 1995.
This stadium is designed so that everyone has a seat, with a total of 34,742 places. There are even plans to make it bigger, up to 42,000 seats, if more fans want to come! Since May 2023, the Middlesbrough Women's team also plays some of their special matches here.
Contents
History of the Riverside Stadium
Why a New Stadium Was Built
Before the Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough FC played at a place called Ayresome Park. A new rule, called the Taylor Report, said that all top football stadiums needed to have seats for everyone. Ayresome Park was in a busy area, so it couldn't be made bigger. The club wanted a much larger stadium, so they decided to build a brand new one.
The Teesside Development Corporation offered a great spot by the River Tees for the new stadium. This area was called Middlehaven.
Building the Stadium
Construction of the new stadium began in the autumn of 1994. It was built by Taylor Woodrow Construction and cost about £16 million. It took only nine months to complete!
Fans of the club got to choose the stadium's name. They voted for "Riverside Stadium" during the last game at Ayresome Park. Other names they could have picked were Middlehaven Stadium, Erimus Stadium, and Teesside Stadium. For a few years, it was called Cellnet Riverside Stadium and then BT Cellnet Riverside Stadium because of a sponsorship deal.
First Games and Early Years
The very first game at the Riverside Stadium was on August 26, 1995. Middlesbrough played against Chelsea in front of 28,286 excited fans. Middlesbrough won 2-0! Craig Hignett scored the first goal ever at the stadium, and Jan Åge Fjørtoft scored the second. This first season was also special because Middlesbrough was back in the Premier League.
In their second season at the new stadium, Middlesbrough reached the finals of two big cup competitions. However, they were moved down from the Premier League that year.
Stadium Upgrades and Special Features
In 1998, the stadium got even bigger! They added 5,000 more seats by filling in the corners, costing £5 million. This made the stadium hold 35,100 people. Over the years, the seating has been changed a bit, and today it holds 34,742 fans. The club has permission to add another 7,000 seats if needed, making it around 42,000!
In 2005, the old gates from Ayresome Park were moved to the Riverside Stadium. These gates are famous because they were locked when the club faced problems in 1986. You can also see statues of famous former players like George Hardwick, Wilf Mannion, and George Camsell outside. There's even a "Borobrick Road" where fans can buy bricks with messages on them, often remembering family members.
The stadium is also eco-friendly! In 2008, a huge wind turbine was built nearby. It's 125 meters tall and helps power the stadium. Any extra electricity is sold to the National Grid.
Hosting Big Events
The Riverside Stadium has hosted many important matches. In 2012, it was the only public warm-up match for the Great Britain Olympic football team before the London 2012 Olympic Games. Famous players like Ryan Giggs and Neymar played in that game, where Brazil beat Great Britain 2-0.
In 2016, when Middlesbrough was promoted back to the Premier League, the stadium got a £5 million makeover. This included new press areas, TV studios, better changing rooms, new floodlights, and updated food kiosks.
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The outside view of the stadium.
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The inside view of the stadium.
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A statue of George Hardwick, a famous player.
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A statue of Wilf Mannion, another club legend.
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Fans celebrating promotion in 2016.
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Stadium Details
The Riverside Stadium is completely enclosed, meaning every seat has a clear view of the football pitch. It has four main sections, called stands: the North, East, West, and South stands. The corners between them are also named. You can find food and drink kiosks all around the stadium.
- The North Stand is right next to the River Tees.
- The West Stand is the biggest stand and runs along one side of the pitch. It has special executive boxes and restaurants. The players' changing rooms are here, and the tunnel where players walk out is in the middle. If you look closely, you can see the word "BORO" spelled out in white seats at the top.
- The East Stand is where the players look when they come out. The main TV camera spot was moved here in 2016. The letters "MFC" are spelled out in white seats at the top. This stand also has a family zone and seats for visiting supporters.
- The South Stand is now for home supporters. It's home to the "Red Faction," a group of vocal fans known for their big displays called tifos.
Records and Statistics
- Record Attendance (all teams): 35,000 when England played Slovakia on June 11, 2003, during a Euro 2004 qualifier.
- Record Attendance (Middlesbrough): 34,836 when Middlesbrough played Norwich City on December 28, 2004, in the FA Premier League.
Other Uses for the Stadium
International Football Matches
The Riverside Stadium has hosted international football games, just like Ayresome Park did. When the new Wembley Stadium was being built, the England team played matches at different stadiums around the country. The Riverside Stadium hosted a Euro 2004 qualifying match against Slovakia on June 11, 2003. England won 2-1, with Michael Owen scoring both goals.
In April 2021, the stadium hosted two friendly matches for the England men's team against Austria and Romania, as they got ready for the Euro 2020 Championship. In February 2022, the stadium also hosted two games for the Arnold Clark Cup, a women's football tournament featuring teams like England, Canada, Germany, and Spain.
Rugby League Matches
The Riverside Stadium was also a venue for the 2021 Men's Rugby League World Cup. On October 30, 2022, it hosted a match between Tonga and the Cook Islands. Tonga won with a big score of 92-10.
Concerts and Music Events
The stadium isn't just for sports; it's also a great place for concerts!
- On June 1, 2019, the famous band Take That performed for 32,000 fans as part of their 30th Anniversary Tour. Rick Astley was also there! This was the first concert ever held at the stadium.
- On June 1, 2022, The Killers played to 33,000 fans, with the Manic Street Preachers as their support act.
- On June 5, 2023, the Arctic Monkeys performed for 32,000 fans, supported by The Hives and The Mysterines.
- Take That returned on May 24, 2024, with Olly Murs joining them.
- On June 8, 2024, James Arthur played at the stadium, supported by McFly and Lauran Hibberd.
Milestone Matches
| 26 August 1995 |  Middlesbrough |
2–0 | Chelsea |
1995–96 FA Premier League First Match |
| 15:00 BST | Hignett  39'Fjørtoft 77' |
Attendance: 28,286 Referee: Stephen Lodge |
| 7 February 1996 | Middlesbrough |
0–0 | Wimbledon |
1995–96 FA Cup R4 First FA Cup Match |
| 15:00 GMT | Attendance: 28,915 Referee: Roger Dilkes |
| 11 June 2003 | England |
2–1 | Slovakia  |
UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying Stadium Record Attendance (all teams) |
| 20:00 BST | Attendance: 35,000 |
| 28 December 2004 | Middlesbrough |
2–0 | Norwich City |
2004–05 FA Premier League Stadium Record Attendance (Middlesbrough) |
| 15:00 GMT | Attendance: 34,836 Referee: Howard Webb |
| 17 September 2023 | Middlesbrough |
0–0 | Stockport County |
2023–24 FA Women's National League Division One North First Middlesbrough F.C. Women's Match |
| 14:00 BST | Attendance: 2,177 |
| 13 April 2025 | Middlesbrough |
7–0 | Doncaster Rovers Belles |
2024–25 FA Women's National League Division One North Stadium Record Attendance (Middlesbrough F.C. Women) |
| 14:00 BST | Attendance: 4,083 |
See also
In Spanish: Estadio de Riverside para niños
